By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Illinois/Wisconsin

The annual invitation only Top Prospect Showcase is one of the biggest and best collections of uncommitted talent the Midwest has to offer. With over 100 coaches in attendance, this year was no different and throughout the week we will be breaking down the event position by position with our top performers from the event.

We start off with the catchers and it was an excellent group of catch and throw back stops with a few high level bats mixed in as well. 2016 graduate Cooper Johnson took the top spot this year with some of the more impressive catch and throws at the event. Narrowly missing the top spot was David Craan who by far was the most impressive athlete at the event. On top of Craan’s catching skills he showed a quick easy bat and ran an event best 6.55. With that type of speed it might be hard to keep Craan behind the dish.

Top Catching Prospects

1. Cooper Johnson, C, Carmel, 2016
6-foot, 190-pound catcher currently ranked No. 6 overall in Illinois’ 2016 class, No. 28 overall.  Offensively, hits from an open, spread out stance hands start back and stay quiet through load.  Shows quick hands with short level swing getting extension in swing and producing 88 mph exit velocity with occasional lift.  Defensively, impressed with the top pop times at the Top Prospect Showcase at 1.84-1.90.  Occasionally got tall receiving pop times to second, but shows impressive quickness with feet and transfer from glove to hand.  Throws were online, high at times, but firm with accuracy, strong arm at 80 mph from the crouch.  Johnson will be one of the top catching recruits in the Midwest for the 2016 class.

2. David Craan, C/OF, Whitney Young, 2015
Lean athletic build with strength, excellent body type, 5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher/outfielder. Craan is one of the more impressive athletes in the class, ran an event best 6.55 in the 60 and showed the strongest arm out of the crouch at 81 mph. Defensively posted several pop times under 2.0, best pop  time at 1.91, arm action has advanced carry, loose arm action and highly accurate. Receives well, athletic feet, moves out of the crouch well. In the outfield arm played at 90 mph, feet work quickly and athletically, plays through the baseball well. High level defender at either position. Offensively hits from an open stance, smooth loading action, short stride, strong balance. Bat path is short, gets extension through the baseball, quick hands, excellent line drive hitter, loose swing, 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.

3. Jesse Forestell, C, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2015
Recent Western Michigan commit. Solid catchers build at 6-foot, 190-pounds, strong lower half. Offensively hits from the left side, high balanced approach, short stride with smooth loading action, consistent swing, repeats well. Impacts the ball well, path is long through the baseball, high level hitter. Defensively showed a highly accurate arm to second, short over the top slot, showed carry, 2.00-2.08 pop times, arm played at 75 mph from the crouch. Hands were soft behind the plate, receives well.

4. Marshall Gilbert, C, Westosha Central (WI). 2015
6-foot-1, 205-pound catcher, strong physical build, typical catchers body, sturdy lower half. Defensively showed advanced catch and throw abilities, quick clean transfer, sits tall in the crouch. Advanced arm strength, 80 mph out of the crouch, carry through the bag, short over the top arm action. Posted 2.00-2.02 pop times. Offensively hits from an open stance, short stride with consistent loading action, maintains strong balance through contact. Well above average bat seed present, short path stays on top of the baseball, showed the ability to create backspin, line drive gap to gap approach. Flashes power potential, 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.47 runner in the 60.

5. Dan Devine, C, Joliet Catholic, 2016
6-foot-1, 195-pound catcher, strong build. Defensive minded catcher, advanced catch and throw for age. Quick arm action, short over the top slot, showed arm strength at 77 mph, carry through his target. Posted some of the best pop times at the event ranging 1.91-2.01 with accuracy. Transfer is quick and efficient, athletic defender. Grinder behind the dish, hard-working catcher, highly willing to block, tough minded. Offensively hits from an open stance, tall setup, short stride. Lower half collapses, longer uphill bat path, pull side tendencies, flashes pop. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.

6. Justin Kelly, C, Wheaton Warrenville, 2015
6-foot-3, 215-pound right-handed hitting catcher currently ranked No. 74 in Illinois’ 2015 class, No. 299 overall.  Large frame, extremely strong…hits from a wide balanced setup, with a short stride, and hands held high initially, dropping back and down to load.  Bad speed is evident, but cuts off finish at the end of swing with some stiffness, producing exit velocity up to 90 mph.  Defensively, throws from short, over the top arm action, reeling off pop times between 2.01-2.07 with accuracy on the bag.  Threw 76 mph from the crouch, and ran a 7.47 60.

7. Patrick Rumoro, C, Oak Park-River Forest, 2015
5-foot-11, 180-pound catcher. Defensive minded backstop, strong catch and throw guy, transfers the ball quickly and efficiently. Arm action is short, over the top action, showed carry, posted 1.92-2.08 pop times, 76 mph arm from the crouch. Offensively hits from an open stance, slightly crouched, short stride with smooth loading action. Swing shows some effort, line drive approach, showed the ability to spray both gaps. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.

8. Brett Johnson, C/OF, Dundee-Crown HS, 2015
Solidly built 6-foot-1, 190-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Johnson’s calling card is his pure left-handed swing. Hits from open setup, maintains excellent balance and rhythm throughout swing, gets good extension with slightly uphill path. Stays through the ball well, utilizing lower half; swing is aggressive yet under control; creates bat speed and barrel whip through zone. Gap-to-gap approach with above-average power potential; recorded 83 mph exit velocity. Behind the plate, has directional footwork and short arm action. Pop times ranged between 2.09-2.12 with some accuracy. Was clocked at 72 mph from behind the plate and 83 mph from the outfield. Ran a 7.10 laser-timed 60.

9. Logan Haring, C, DeKalb, 2015
6-foot-2, 195-pound left-handed hitting catcher currently ranked No. 204 in Illinois’ 2015 class hits from a wide base, turning front foot inward to load hips.  Slightly uphill bat path produced 89 mph exit velocity with power to his pull side.  Defensively, pop times ranged between 2.04-2.19 throwing 73 mph from the crouch.  Showed accuracy on throws to second from short, over the top arm action with clean exchanges from glove to hand.  Ran a 7.65 60.

10. Luke Beesley, C, Champaign Central, 2015
6-foot-4, 180-pound lanky catcher impressed at the plate with projectable frame.  Hits from an open, crouched setup, with a short stride and short, fluid bat path getting good extension producing 83 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, impressed with short, loose, over the top arm action with accuracy throwing 75 mph from the crouch and reeling off pop times between 2.01-2.10.  At times does not square shoulders towards the target, opening up early and dropping arm angle to second base a bit.  Shows soft hands receiving, and provides a nice large target to throw to.  Ran a 7.33 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Danilo Cvijovic, C, Serbia, 2015
6-foot-1, 180-pound catcher, thin build. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, leg kick trigger, minimal lower half involvement, level bat path, 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. Behind the plate posted pop times at 2.11-2.19, arm played at 71 mph out of the crouch, high ¾ slot. Ran the 60 in 7.90.

Chase Gadau, C, St. Joseph-Ogden, 2015
5-foot-11, 205-pound right-handed hitting catcher with wide shoulders and strong, thick lower half impressed with 87 mph exit velocity, hitting from a slightly open balanced setup with a short stride and level bat path through the zone.  Defensively, threw 2.18-2.25 down to second, 75 mph from the crouch from a ¾ slinging arm slot.  Blocked well during the pitching portion of the event and ran a 7.40 60. 

George Karkazis, C, Lake Forest HS, 2015
Athletic 5-foot-10, 185-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Ran a 6.90 60 and showed athletic, directional footwook behind the plate. Pop times ranged between 2.11-2.18 with top velocity of 75 mph. Offensively, hit from tall, upright setup, uphill path, registered 85-mph exit velocity.

Patrick Kuczwara, C/MIF, Johnsburg, 2015
6-foot, 175-pound C/MIF hit from an open setup with a short balanced stride and hands moving backwards to load.  Slightly uphill bat path produced 81 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, showcased soft hands at short with a short, high ¾ arm action throwing 68 mph across the infield.  Behind the plate threw 64 mph from the crouch, with pop times ranging between 2.36 and 2.44.  Ran 7.4 in the 60.

Eric Paz, 1B/C, Tremper (WI), 2015
6-foot, 190-pound left handed hitting first baseman/catcher. Offensively hits from a tall, closed stance, short stride. Showed bat speed, flashed hard impact of the baseball, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed above average feel at first base. Behind the dish posted 2.19-2.29 pop times, 79 mph arm from the crouch. Paz projects as a left handed hitting first baseman who is lso serviceably behind the plate.

Andy Scanlon, C/RHP, St. Ignatius, 2015
6-foot-3, 185-pound catcher/right-handed pitcher with lanky, projectable frame and strong lower half.  Impressed on the mound with 80-83 mph fastball exhibiting arm side run from long, high ¾ arm action with a slight wrist wrap in back.  72-74 mph curveball showed late, sharp 12/6 rotation.  Slowed arm on 71-74 mph changeup with sink and arm side run.  Offensively, hits from a wide slightly closed setup with an uphill bat path and minimal stride producing 80 mph exit velocity.  Behind the plate, pop times ranged between 2.04 and 2.15 from short, over the top arm action with accuracy and carry.  Ran 7.28 in the 60.

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